Fall Term 2020/2021

From the time of the ancients, humans have sought the best way to understand the natural world, to comprehend truth, to build a just society and to live a good life without relying on supernatural explanations. These ruminations, however, have not always…

An introduction to the study of chaplaincy across a range of professional contexts.

Healthy boundaries are key to healthy ministries. They are meant to create a safe container within which we can freely minister. This course will prepare you to develop and articulate your professional ethic of ministry. We will cover the importance of…

We will explore some practices of pastoral care, in particular, and the vocation of pastoral ministry, considering the things that challenge us and the things that sustain us-including especially the Unitarian Universalist faith tradition which shapes…

This 3-credit course is an introduction to research methods, including both quantitative and qualitative methods, and a practical journey through the stages of the writing process. Readings and discussions will be used to explore the research process…

This required course in theology introduces students to an interdisciplinary and engaged way of doing theology that integrates aspects of liberal and liberationist theological traditions, attempts to bridge modern and postmodern philosophical sensibilities…

Replaces Community Studies I. This course launches students into the lifelong formational work of integrating intercultural and theological learning. The course will introduce students to basic theological literacy and a program of intercultural learning…

Formerly titled Religious Education for a Changing World. This course is designed to be a comprehensive introduction to ideas and practices that give Unitarian Universalist Religious Education its meaning and purpose throughout our lifetimes. We will…

In this class, we will become acquainted with 1) the corpus of laws, narrative, and poetry that comprise the Hebrew Scriptures and 2) the variety of interpretive strategies that have been used to understand that library. We will discuss the pre-history…

This course explores these questions through the lens of Humanism, from the ancient world to today, complete with an exploration of the institutions which make up the contemporary Humanist movement. Beginning with the non-theistic Jain and Carvaka movements…

The course is an exploration of the history and origins of the various Buddhist traditions. These include Theravada Buddhism, Zen, Tibetan Buddhism and the emerging convert Buddhism of the West. Meets MDiv Global Religions or Sacred Texts requirement…

This course serves as an introduction to ethics by examining some of the fundamental debates in the field. Our conversations will cover a range of topics, including the major traditions in moral theory; the tensions between religious and secular voices…

This Fall semester course is linked with an approved 20-hour per week congregation or community internship. The course builds on forms of awareness of congregational/organizational systems gained during the first year of the internship and provides space…

Formerly titled Method is the Message. This course explores how to strategically create learning experiences in light of how children and adults learn and grow. Students should expect to grapple head-on with models of cognitive, faith and identity development…

This course will provide a framework for creating worship in a culture that is becoming more diverse and where organized religion is losing adherence. Students will consider how to create worship that is memorable, meaningful, and multi-cultural. This…

The purpose of this course is to provide a general introduction to the history of the Unitarians and Universalists, primarily in North America, with a brief review of the European roots of these religious traditions. Comprehensive coverage of such a diverse…

Replaces Congregational Studies I. This Fall semester course is linked with an approved, 20-hour a week, congregational or community internship. The focus of this course is on the formation of ministerial identity. The internship site serves as a place…